Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1902 — Cripple, but an Optimist. [ARTICLE]

Cripple, but an Optimist.

A one-legged newsboy had been hopping about on his crutch selling afternoon “extras,” and when there was a lull in the business, owing to a falling off In the crowds passing through City Hall Park, he sat down on the steps of the municipal capitol for a brief rest, says the New York Times. “How did you lose your leg?" I asked. “Cable car,” he said, with the street urchin’s characteristic economy of words. “Too bad!” I remarked. “Oh, but it might ’a’ been worse, sir/’ the boy replied. “The company paid the doctor and gave mother SBOO. That paid all our debts and loft us SSOO In bank, an’ It’s there ’cept S4O we had to take out when.mother was sick. An’ I sell more papers than most as the boys just ’cause I’ve a crutch. There’s one of my customers now.”